A1 Journal article (refereed)
Cost-efficient strategies to preserve dead wood-dependent species in a managed forest landscape (2016)

Ranius, T., Korosuo, A., Roberge, J.-M., Juutinen, A., Mönkkönen, M., & Schroeder, M. (2016). Cost-efficient strategies to preserve dead wood-dependent species in a managed forest landscape. Biological Conservation, 204, 197-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.017

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ranius, Thomas; Korosuo, Anu; Roberge, Jean-Michel; Juutinen, Artti; Mönkkönen, Mikko; Schroeder, Martin

Journal or series: Biological Conservation

ISSN: 0006-3207

eISSN: 1873-2917

Publication year: 2016

Volume: 204

Issue number: 0

Pages range: 197-204

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.017

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/52463

Abstract

Negative consequences of intensive forest management on biodiversity are often mitigated by setting aside old forest, but alternative strategies have been suggested. We have compared using simulations the consequences of two of these alternatives − setting aside young forests or extending rotation periods − to that of current practice in managed boreal forest. In all scenarios we applied a constant conservation budget and predicted forest development and harvesting over 200 years. As a proxy for biodiversity conservation, we projected the extinction risk of a dead wood-dependent beetle, Diacanthous undulatus, in a 50 km2 landscape in central Sweden, using a colonization-extinction model. During the first century, setting aside young forest stands rather than old stands increased extinction risk because young stands have lower habitat quality. However, habitat quality of young forests increased as they aged and they were much cheaper to set aside than old stands. Therefore, the strategy allowed a larger set-aside area (within the budget constraint), resulting in lower extinction risk and harvested timber volumes in the second century. Prolonging rotations also decreased the extinction risk but was in the long-term less cost-effective. The most cost-effective strategy in the long-term (200 years) was to set aside a mixture of old and young forest. However, setting aside young stands rather than prolonging rotations or setting aside old stands delays both the benefits (lower extinction risk) and costs (lost harvest volumes), so the optimal strategy depends on the assumed societal values and hence discount rates.

Keywords: natural diversity; biodiversity; young stands; old growth forests; forestry; silviculture; environmental protection; strategies

Free keywords: conservation strategy; forest age; population viability; prolonged rotation; time horizon

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2016

JUFO rating: 2